Chef friend brings takeout pizza to hot tub party, gets judged for not cooking something: 'I was getting roasted in the hot tub'

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Ally Perry • Writer and Editor
Feb 26, 2026 9:00 PM EST

Crowd-pleasing food can be difficult to get right.

In most cultures and social groups, eating together is a pretty central part of spending time together. Nothing has the ability to unite people like the prospect of a tasty meal. However, organizing food for a large group can also prove to be somewhat of a minefield: the likelihood is that everyone is going to have different preferences and dietary needs, and it may be impossible to satisfy everybody with a single choice of dish.

On top of that, cooking for a lot of people is a time-consuming endeavor. Anyone who has ever had to chop ingredients for a meal that serves more than six people can tell you that. There are times when it is simply not viable to commit to making something elaborate for a family get-together or a group of friends, simply because it is too much responsibility in the given circumstances. 

That being said, it is important to make an effort now and again—especially if you have already agreed to make a contribution to a meal. Communicating clearly the expectations and how much time you have to spend on something is a vital part of making food for an event.

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  • Three women sit at the edge of an in-ground hot tub, laughing and holding drinks
    via tabitha turner

    Three women sit at the edge of an in-ground hot tub, laughing and holding drinks

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • When a couple of her friends decided to host a potluck party to celebrate the purchase of a new, extra-large hot tub, one woman was tasked with bringing one of several entrees for the event. The friendship group often held potlucks, and she had become known for being a good cook and offering tasty homemade meals when they did this kind of thing.

    This particular weekend, she was extremely busy, so she only had time to pick up takeout pizza. While nobody seemed to complain to her face, she was told that some people were talking behind her back about her not making an effort for the potluck. She wasn't sure whether she had made a big mistake.

  • Am I wrong for bringing cheap pizza to the potluck?

    I 28F recently attended a potluck at my friend's (28F) house. It was a "hot tub warming" event as her and husband had just got a ridiculously huge hot tub (10 of us).
    via rideshareratingz
  • We often to potluck events in our friend group, just part of the culture of our church/community etc.
    via rideshareratingz
  • Normally, I am a bit of a chef. Nothing too fancy but I had said for this event I would be providing an entree.
    via rideshareratingz
  • Usually that kind of thing does need to be dialed in bc well, we want to ultimately have dinner not just like 12 different kinds of chocolate chip cookies.
    via rideshareratingz
  • Well I was running late from a very busy weekend and just got into a pinch so I had to pick up $6 pizzas from that national chain.
    via rideshareratingz
  • Close up of takeout pepperoni pizza
    via Alan Hardman

    Close up of takeout pepperoni pizza

  • Idk if I'm allowed to say specific brands, but let's just call it Tiny Roman Guy's Pizza.
    via rideshareratingz
  • I got 3 and felt that was more than enough (there are 2 other mains/entrees). So I show up and the host is fine and everything, and no one complained directly, but over the course of the night, three people told me that I was getting roasted in the hot tub when I went to the bathroom.
    via rideshareratingz
  • Things like that it's terrible pizza for teens, and we are too old to eat pizza like that, and one person even said that it's an affront to pizza itself, "cursed flatbread." It was described as joking but maybe even just that no one said anything directly made me feel worse.
    via rideshareratingz
  • I know it's kind of the cheapest food out there but gosh, is it actually ride to show up with "Tiny Roman Guy's"??
    via rideshareratingz
  • The worst I can say is that it was the cheapest entree there probably by about $30 but I just ddn't know it would go over so poorly.
    via rideshareratingz
  • After feeling ashamed, there was only half a pizza left so I feel like how bad can it really be?
    via rideshareratingz
  • Close up of a takeout pizza in a white box
    via Denisse Leon

     Close up of a takeout pizza in a white box

  • z-eldapin I like roman guys pizza. And pizza in a hot tub sounds way better than trying to eat a salad in a hot tub.
    via z-eldapin
  • kookookach000 It's on the host for not checking with attendees on what their bringing. Not on you. A hot tub warming??? Pizza is more than adequate. People just like to talk sh, I wouldn't read into it. Next time as a joke you should bring DiGiorno.
    via kookookach000
  • sparksgirl1223 Dude, your friends are snotty. 1. Hot tub warming parties are...extra af (and not really a thing) 2. You were busy. Life happens. You didn't flake, you still brought food, just not bougie food. 3. If they're gonna talk sh behind your back, I'd decline future Invites, after confronting them. 4. Perhaps they should start providing food for their parties if they're going to host AND talk sh NTA, IMO (but I like tiny roman pizza on occasion)
    via sparksgirl1223
  • Rich-Pirate-4745 Did you bring crazy bread? Because my judgment rests on the answer to that question... j/k nta
    via Rich-Pirate-4745
  • catladyclub Hey my husband prefers that pizza over many others! At least you brought something! My best friend was not a cook, her husband was the cook in their family. She was a manager at a pizza place and she always brought pizza, everyone loved it!
    via catladyclub
  • CCC_000 NTA you had a busy day and that's what you brought. I don't like to hang out with people who would act like that over it though. A joke sure but that sounds like more than that. And as you noticed people ate it lol
    via CCC_OOO
  • SnooDogs 1355 If you show up my party and bring hot n readies you're the goat. But, we aren't snobby and will absolutely throw down on cheap pizza
    via SnooDogs1355
  • Redditress428 With friends like that, you should not have troubled yourself going to the toilet.
    via Redditress428

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friendship pizza hot tub friends Party food takeout entitled people
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